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Short-tailed Albatross

Phoebastria albatrusOrder: PASSERIFORMESFamily: Albatross (Diomedeidae)
Short-tailed Albatross Head Illustration

Head

  • Bill Shape: Hooked Seabird
  • Eye color: Black iris
  • Head Pattern: Plain
  • Crown color: Yellow
  • Forehead color: Yellow
  • Nape Color: BUFF
  • Throat color: Yellow
  • Cere color:
Splitbar

Recommended Products:

National Geographic Birds of North America Field Guide
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Kaufman Field Guide to Birds of North America
The Kaufman Field Guide is a true field guide: a pocket-sized book organized for easy reference, providing just the essentials for quick and accurate identification. This innovative field guide from birding expert Kenn Kaufman is perfect for both beginners and more experienced birders wanting a quick reference. Its revolutionary approach to illustration provides the most lifelike and accurate pictures in any field guide. Rather than using the typical drawings and paintings, birding expert and Audubon field editor Kaufman selected over 2000 digitally edited photographs, enhanced to improve contrast, color, and the like. Kaufman's text is simple and uncluttered, a plus for novices. Softcover, 391 pages
Short-tailed Albatross Body Illustration

Body

  • Length Range: 91 cm (36 in)
  • Weight: 3400 g (120 oz)
  • Size: Size 5. Very Large (32 - 72 in)
  • Color: White, Black, Yellow
  • Underparts: White
  • Upperparts: Gray and black
  • Back Pattern: Solid
  • Belly Pattern: Solid
  • Breast Pattern: Solid
Short-tailed Albatross Flight Illustration

Flight

  • Flight Pattern: Dynamic soaring., Glides for hours.
  • Wingspan Range: 210 cm (83 in)
  • Wing Shape: Pointed-Wings, Very-Long-Wings
  • Tail Shape: Squared Tail
  • Tail Pattern: Dark edging
  • Upper Tail: Dark brown-black
  • Under Tail: White
  • Leg color: Gray
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Bird Call Credits: The Macaulay Library of Natural Sounds at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. Martyn Stewart, http://www.naturesound.org, Redmond, Washington USA. The reuse or copying of bird calls in this database is strictly forbidden.

Family Albatross (Diomedeidae)_blue
Species Phoebastria albatrus
Length36 Inches
Wingspan83 Inches

Short-tailed Albatross

Short-tailed Albatross: Largest and only white-bodied albatross in the North Pacific. The head and nape have a golden-yellow cast. White wings have black edges and tips. Tail is white with black fringe. Legs and feet are pink-gray. AKA Steller's Albatross. Almost became extinct in late 19th century.

● Song: Generally silent

● Foraging & Feeding: Short-tailed Albatross: Feeds on fish, shrimp, squid, and crustaceans picked up from the water surface; not known to follow boats like some other albatross species.

● Breeding & nesting: Short-tailed Albatross: One white egg with red spots is laid on the ground in a nest made of grass, twigs, and volcanic debris. Both parents incubate the egg for about 65 days.

● Similar species: Short-tailed Albatross: None in range.

Flight Pattern

Dynamic soaring., Glides for hours.
Short-tailed Albatross Body Illustration
● Range & Habitat: Short-tailed Albatross: Endangered species. Once frequent in the northwestern Pacific. Currently, an estimated 200 nest on Torishima, an island south of Japan. Travels to Bering Sea and Alaska south along the Pacific coast south to California after breeding.
BreedingMonogamous, Colonial, Mates for life
PopulationIncreasing, Rare
MigrationMigratory
Weight120 Ounces